Organic South West

 
The Organic South West food and drink sector group is project managed by the Soil Association working on behalf of a cluster of South West organic businesses, under the banner of South West Food & Drink. The project is directed by an industry-led steering group that aims to further develop and oversee the implementation of an action plan for the sector. The South West is at the forefront of development within the organic sector and has the largest proportion of organic producers and processors in the UK, accounting for 26% of almost 4000 licensed producers. Many of the organic sector's pioneer businesses are based in the region, several of which have developed into regional and national market and brand leaders.  
 
The region's organic businesses were consulted about the needs of the organic sector in the South West and concluded that the following actions are essential for its future development:  
 
 

• To work together to increase consumer and citizen awareness. The organic story makes real the connection between the food we eat and the world we live in.
• To use new approaches to the promotion and marketing of organic food, through shows, innovative events, co-promotions and generic advertising.
• To encourage collaboration between businesses. Facilitation of co-operative activities and linking businesses together for mutual benefits, such as the opening of new market opportunities.
• To develop new and untapped markets, such as public procurement, schools, hospitals and care homes; catering and food service; pubs, hotels and tourism.
• To further develop their commitment to fair trade and sourcing from regional producers, exploiting the benefits of efficient, short supply chains and ensuring that the quality of organic food is enhanced.

There are also several wider South West organic activities that fall outside this project, including Organic South West - the Soil Association office working in Cornwall. For more information on Organic South West, based in Cornwall please visit www.organicsouthwest.org. The Soil Association, through its Organic South West Development Programme, will endeavour to link all these existing projects and programmes together to form one synchronous programme of regional organic activities.